News

Gardening is for the Birds!

Article and Photographs by Amy Witt, UMaine Extension Horticulturist  Gardens bring delight to gardeners, visitors, and people passing by. They can also provide important habitat for birds, and in return, more enjoyment for the gardener and visitors. Gardening successfully for birds involves meeting their basic needs of food, water, nesting sites and shelter. Plan & […]

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Preparing for Your Next Vegetable Garden

By Clark Whitter, Cumberland County Master Gardener, Class of 2010 Analyze At the end of the growing season, including fall and early winter crops, analyze what did well and what did not. If a crop has not done well for the last two to three years, consider cutting back on some vegetables or change some […]

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Flowers From Your Valentine

By Tayla Mann, UMaine Extension Staff, Administrative Clerk Valentine’s Day has become a well-known tradition filled with chocolate, greeting cards, and especially flowers. However, with Valentine’s Day come and gone you’re probably beginning to wonder how to make those cherished flowers last a little longer. So we have compiled a few tips as our Valentine’s present […]

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seedling plants in a greenhouse

Maine Seed Distributors

By Tayla Mann, UMaine Extension Staff, Administrative Clerk Here at the UMaine Extension we love local. Local foods, local farmers, and local seeds. Lucky for us, Maine has some great seed distributors worth talking about! Johnny’s Selected Seeds Johnny’s, created in 1973, prides themselves in being 100% employee owned and producing safe, non-GMO seeds. They provide a […]

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Winter Care of Houseplants

By Kyle Fletcher Baker, Cumberland County Master Gardener and MCN Maine Zone 5 Well, here it is, winter in Maine and while all around us outside is usually covered with snow, some of us are tending the sporadic gardens inside. Whether it’s one or two plants or you have a virtual jungle of plants, the care […]

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Cooking with Maine Beer

By Mallory Martin, UMaine Extension Staff, Administrative Support Specialist (Food & Nutrition) Maine has a rich history with alcohol and is now known for its present day local distilleries. Local craft brews can be used in recipes to create salad dressings, marinades, baking quick breads, and desserts. Below are ways to use your favorite local […]

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Hand Washing 101: Back to the Basics

By Kathy Savoie, MS, RD, Extension Educator Wet, Lather, Scrub, Rinse, and Dry Plain Soap vs. Antibacterial Soap We all hear it, all the time: wash your hands to prevent the spread of germs and illness. The latest information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises consumers to wash your hands with plain […]

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Preserving Your Fresh Garden Veggies into the Winter

By Jason Lilley, Sustainable Agriculture Professional There’s nothing like going into your back yard to harvest the freshest possible vegetables for dinner. Using this home grown produce doesn’t have to come to an end with the first killing frosts. With some planning you can have harvestable crops in the garden well into December, and have […]

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Thanksgiving Food Safety

The holidays are fast approaching. Are you ready? Here are some great publications to help you prepare food safely for your loved ones. Helpful Hints on Handling Turkeys for Thanksgiving Let’s Preserve: Cranberries Vegetables and Fruits for Health: Winter Squash and Pumpkins Vegetables and Fruits for Health: Potatoes Food for Holiday Giving: Safety Comes First!  […]

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Ugly Fruit & Vegetable Photo Contest Winner!

Food waste is a huge issue and fruits and vegetables that are considered ugly are often thrown away while still edible. So with your help we celebrated the under-appreciated beauty of ugly fruits and vegetables that you grew. Thank you to everyone who participated in this photo contest and congratulations to our winner, Sue Hochstein of […]

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